Queen Elizabeth held a deep affection for her 12 great-grandchildren, particularly cherishing the moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to her through their daughter’s name, Lilibet.

The sweet nickname brings back memories of the Queen’s own childhood difficulty pronouncing Elizabeth, birthing a loving nickname within the Royal household.

However, Her Majesty’s former butler, Paul Burrell, shared a poignant tale of distance shadowing the Queen’s twilight years, as Prince Harry and Meghan’s move Stateside meant less time with young Lilibet.

Despite health hurdles, the Queen longed to be with her namesake, and once, she even prepared a heartfelt surprise for Lilibet that she regrettably could never present.

‘Lilibet’ became a term of endearment within the Royal Family ( Image: PA)

“Even on Lilibet’s first birthday the Queen didn’t see her,” divulged Paul . “She saw her the day before. But on her birthday, the Queen had a birthday cake made with one candle in it. And they never turned up. That candle was never lit.”

Lilibet celebrated her first birthday not with her great-grandmother, but with a low-key picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Meanwhile, the Queen, contending with her own movement limitations, reluctantly withdrew from the much-anticipated Epsom Derby in Surrey, an event included in her Jubilee revelries.

Paul shared a heartbreaking memory, revealing: “The next day she asked if maybe they’d like to come up for tea again and was told they’ve gone,” and he continued to describe the Queen’s response: “‘What do you mean they’ve gone? ‘ she said. They’ve gone back to America. ‘Oh no, they never said goodbye’.”

Queen Elizabeth II absolutely adored her 12 great-grandchildren ( Image: PA)

He went on to explain that the Queen, who sadly passed away in September 2022, was left “confused” by the abrupt departure, asking, “How could you offend our Queen? ” Paul expressed his shock, saying: “Well, I don’t understand anyone that could do that. Not her family, why would you want to? She was devoid of jealousy, anger, envy, all those traits that we associate with other people she didn’t have. She was just a very simple soul. I wish the world could have known her the way I knew her.”

Paul also reflected on the Royal Family’s loss, stating: “All the family dearly loved our Queen, and they will all be remembering her in their own particular ways. She was a mother, a granny, a great granny to all of them. And they all miss her.”